Umbrella



July 27, 1926.

R. M. CRAIG UMBRELLA Filed Dec. a, 1925 Q, Y //1/V[ A 70R:

' float-m- Alina: 621/6, Q

Patented July 27; 1926 orella is I coyefiet' the 'thimble to which the rihs are pivotedyhut is adapted toj extend in eccen trici relation :With the Y axis of the cover; "at

flirp ieatibn fiija' member 8,1925. Serial No. 74,004:-

liIyiinventio n relates to umbrellas f-"the type wherein the handle stick of the-urn (1n concentric relation With the' the other end; so that When' the umbrella' is' raised, the cover may be held in a horizonta'lrplane 'wi-th the centerover the head of l y p gjsaid handleat one side of the user; a I o i In 1 the :torin of "my invention hereinafter described ;i the braces frorn the ribs tofthey rnnner 'areo'f lime'quztl length; in correspond L encewith fthe degree of eceentricityof the a handle ifwlth respect 1 to the umbrella axis Wheni'the coverfis' raised." If such braces straightened "out and Withdrawn,

' when thus released" from each other, the ribs endhrzicesmaygbe separately turned to dis-"- engage *their pivotends from the thimlole andrunnerl' were pivoted to I manner, theim brella could not be collapsed Y to present th'e ribs in parallel relation-With the stick; I Therefore; an -essenti'al' feature of my invention'isthe-provision of pivot slots in the runner,

th'ebraces' niay slide to permit 'the 1 ribs the *stic'lr. to enable the user yention is the -combination,"with such a slotted runner, of e'sticlrof fiftttened cross:

section, having its n zijortrensverse axis in the plane of eccentricity of the cover;

Furthermore, my, invention" provides means to permit the insertion end'removal t anyrib or brece'without the services of a skilled operator, by making; the pivot; ends ofthe ribs and braces T-tormso that they may be released'by turning them atright-an-i gles to their normal position and by pivot ally connecting'ezich rib With its'lorace by means of a flexible pivot pin Whichinay be My "in'vention definitelysp cifi d; In said drawings; F g. 1 1s an elevation f a raised umbrella convenientlyembodying my irrventlon. I i

the runner; in the -ordinary parallel :Wltlltheex is oi. the stick; whereinfithepivoted ends" of; such an extent as to I to he folcled perallel'fwith" Mo'reo'ver, es it 3 is advantageous v to det erniinethedirection of the plane in whic'hthe stick is eccer'itric with respect to the cover, withoutlooking 'at'" the latter; a convenient"adjiinctfot my in-' brel'la.

so that" includes the various novel features of construction and larrenge nent hereinafter more I Fig, II is an levation collapsed With-its rilosparalle'l With its sticka.nd handle". r 1 III is I it I fragmentary perspective cat ed in Fig'I Ih I View of one of the ribsiandits brace indiof said umbrella" 303E371: MminnfoRAreQonwrnirinssnno, PENNSYLVANIA;

IV is a 3 ersp'ective View ofthefie Xi-- moved trom -its"connectioh of the rib-end brace.-

Fig. Vjis a longitudinal'isectionzvl vie'w of the runner *indiceted in Fig. I, witlritrag fi be thiisi turn ed i As best-shown in Fig.1 1*; the lbraces 2 lat't'erkijs opened;'and, conseqr1eht1y; the inn- -brelle cover 11 may-51w held in "horizontal position with the either handof the user.

I In order to permit the iimlorella to colni'ents of the stick" andi h'r'aces connected is a traigrnentary transverse 'se'c are normally connecteddoy' pi ot"pins"3-' which may be lo'entnndrernoved: ThepiVOU shown respectively 1 moving any pivot *pin 3, both the *rib 1 4 and the brace 2'Wl11ch it norrnallyjconnec'ts may end r'ernoyed itrein' the umupon one "side I are" shorter than u on 1 the? other: side-of the umbrella frame so that the umbrella handle '9 fexten'elsiobliquely to one side' ofth'e'exis lO' of'the umbrella-when the handle 9 extending to {engaged in sockets in 7"from Which they' lapse With'said handle 9 ;in'parallel syn1-- [metrical relation 'withlsaid,rilos -1; the u1nbrelle runner 12 has slots '13 of different lengths in it; up which I the 'pivot ends tor the'loraces 2 slidewhen the ru'nneris lowered to bring 'theribs 1' together; runner 12m the loose Ting -15 in it frictionally engages However; said' which the handle stick '16" and rests up n'the'top otthe;'pivot ends f-the V braces when the umbrella is raised said ring beingi shifted becka d forth on 1 said sti'clc of said r nner:

by the manual inovement I said stick 5 16 is conveniently formed as a primarily cylindrical tube which is flattened to an elliptical configuration with its major transverse axis held in the plane in which the handle is eccentric, by the engagement of said stick in a correspondingly elliptical tubular portion 17 of the runner; so that the user can determine, in the dark, the eccentric location of the umbrella frame and cover with respect to its handle.

Although I prefer to construct and arrange an umbrella with all of the features above described; it is to be understood that the specific pivotal construction and arrangement of the rib and brace shown in Fig. III is not essential to the combination of the braces of different. lengths with the runner having slots permitting longitudinal movement of the pivot ends of the braces therein, for the purpose of permitting col lapse of the umbrella with its ribs parallel with its stick and handle. Moreover, al though the formation of the handle stick and runner of flattened form is advantageous, as above noted, such construction not essential to the utility of the slot-ted runner and its appurtenant braces.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myselii to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim I 1. In an umbrella, the combination with a metal tubular handle stick of elliptical cross section; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs of equal length pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series or" braces pivotally connected with said ribs at equal distances from the pivotal connections of said ribs with said thimble; said braces being of run equal length; the longest and shortest braces being diametrically opposed in the plane of the major axis of the elliptical configuration of said stick; a tubular runner on having a portion of elliptical cross section closely fitting said stick, and having a cylindrical portion in spaced relation with said --stick'and having a circular series of slots extending parallel with the stick axis and of respectively different lengths corresponding with the different lengths of said braces; said braces having their ends remote from said ribs respectively pivotally connected in said runner slots, and adapted to slide longitudinally in said slots; a friction ring encircling said stick, within said runner, and adapted t bear upon the pivot ends of said braces in said runner and shift them to the ends of said slots, when the umbrella is raised; whereby said stick is held in oblique relation with the axis of the umsaid stick when the umbrella brella, with the handle presented in eccentric relation with the axis of the umbrella, when the umbrella is raised; and said ribs and braces may be folded parallel with said stick, in symmetrical relation withthe umbrella aXis when the umbrella is closed; the ends of said ribs pivotally connected with said thimble, and the ends of said braces pivotally connected with said runner being T-shaped and the pivotal connections between said ribs andbraces comprising removable flexible pins; whereby, upon removal of any such pivot pin, the rib and brace which it normally connects may be independently turned through an angle of ninety degrees and removed from its pivotal connections, respectively with said thimble and with said runner.

2. In an umbrella, the combination with a metal tubular handle stick of flattened cross section; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of'ribs pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with said ribs at equal distances from-the pivotal connections of said ribs with said thimble; said braces being of unequal length; the longest and shortest braces being diametricilly opposed in the plane of the major transverse axis of the stick; a tubular runner on said stick having a portion of flattened cross section closely fitting said stick, and having a portion in spaced relation with said stick with a circular series of slots therein extending parallel with the stick and of respectively different lengths corresponding with the different lengths of said braces; said braces having their ends remote from said ribs respectively pivotally connected in said runner slots, and adapted to slide longitudinally in said slots; a friction ring encircling said stick, within said runner, and adapted to bear upon the pivot ends of said braces in said runner and shift them to one end of said slots, when the umbrella is raised; whereby said stick is held in oblique relation with the axisof the umbrella, with the handle presented in eccentric relation with. the axis of the umbrella, is raised, and said ribs and braces may be folded parallel with said stick, in symmetrical relation with the urnbrella axis when the umbrella is closed.

3. In an umbrella, the combination with a handle stick; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with aid ribs; said braces being of unequal length; the longest and shortest braces being diametrically opposed; a tubular runner on saidstick, having a cylindrical portion in spaced relation with said stick with a circular series of slots'extending parallel with the stick and of respectively different lengths corresponding with v the "diiierent lengths of said braces; "said braces having their ends remote fromsaid ribs respectively plvotally connected in said .runneriislotsyand adapted to slide longitudinally in ,said slots; and means,-within said run-nenradapted to bear upon the pivot 'endsoit said braces in said runner and shift them to, the ends vof said slots; when the umbrella is raised M whereby said st-ickis heldin oblique relation withthe axis'of the -umbrella*,"with the handle, pre-.

" sented in eccentric relation withgthe axisof handle stick ;of: a thimble I andvsaid ribs .and'braces ingwdiametrically opposed; a tubular runner on saidhstick,ghaving a cylindrical portion inispaced relationwith said stick with richcular-series :of slots extending parallel with a the stick and of respectivelydifierent lengths corresponding with the y different lengths of said braces; said braces having their "ends;

ribs. respectively pivotally remoterirom said connectediinrsaid runner slots, 1 and adapted to slide longitudinally insaid slots; wherev said ribs;

'lar series of braces pivotall'y said braces being of unequal j length; the longest and shortest braces bep by said stick. is .heldthe axis of the umbrella presented in eccentricrelation with the axis of t'he umbrella, when'the vumbrellais raised and saidribs and braces may be-folded-parallel with said stick, in symmetrical relationwith the-umbrellaaxis when the unnbrella is closed.

5. In an umbrella; the combination with a handle stick; of athimble rigidly connected" with said stick; a circular series of ribs piv-- otally connected with saidthimble; a circuconnected with ing diametrically opposed; a tubular runner on said stick-havlng a circular series ofslots extending longitudinally therein; said braces ,havingthe r ends, remote from saidribs re spectively pivotally connected in said runner slots, and adaptedto slide longitudinal-- ly in said slots; a friction ring encircling said stick, Within said runner,

to bear upon the pivot ends of said braces in said runner'and shiftthem to one end of said slots; when the umbrella is raised; whereby said stickis held in oblique relation ,withgtheaxis of-the umbrella, with the handle presented in eccentric relation with the axis of the umbrella, when the'umbrella is raised; andsaidribs and braces may be rigidly connected 'connected-withsaid thimble'; a} circu- I larseries of braces pivotallv connected with in oblique relation with with the handle and adapted I folded.parallelf-withi said stick, in syminet rica1- relation with the umbrella c xi when the umbrella is closed.

v '6. In anu1nbrella, the with-.,a handle stick; of a thimble rigidly connected with-isai'd stick; a circular series of ribs'piv.

ot'ally connected with said thi-mble; a :cir'cu- I lar series of braces pivotally connected' with said ribs; 7

length; the longest and shortest: braces being said braces being of iunequa'l V v diametrically jopposed; a. tubular runner .on I

said stick having a circularseries' of slots extending longitudinally therein ;.said: braces having-their ends remote i'rom' said ribs"respectively- .pivotally :connected in said runner slots, and adapted"toislide longitudinally in. said slots;1;me'ans'withinsaid runner; and

pivot; endsot adaptedig to L bear inpon the' 1' said braces n said: runner and shift them :to

one end of said slots,'when the .urnbrellais stick. is 3 held 1in; obthe umbrella raised; -.wherebyv said lique relation with thetaxis of with the handle presented in 'ecce tion with the axis ofvtheumbrella;:whenithe umbrella is raised; and said'ribs and braces maybe: folded. parallel with asaid stick; win

symmetrical relation withsthe umbrella axis whanitheumbrella is closed.

nected with" saidtastick ribs pivotally connected with said :thimble;

;a circular series of braces ipivotally' con nected with said 1.i'bs;?.said braces being of unequal.. 1ength; thelilongest and shortest braces being diametidcally opposed; a tububrella',-the combi ation-with j a. handle stick; of a "thimble irigidlyi con-- v a; "circular series of v series of slots extending longitudinally therein;= said bracesih'aving rtheir endsf remote from said? 7 ribs respectively pivotally connected. in ;said runner Esl ots; andL ada-pted to slide longitudinally in said slots; whereby said stick is held'in oblique -;relation with v of the" umbrella; with the handle I I the axi's presented in'eccentric relation with the axis of vthe umbrella, when thegumbrella is said ribs andfbraces maybe raised; and I v folded parallel withsaid stick, insymrnetriumbrella is closed;

from "the pivotal connections of said ribs equal length; the longest and shortest braces belng d ametrically opposed in the plane of the ma or'axis of the ,tion of the'lstick,

9. 111 an um rel a, th combination with .;a metal tubular' handle stick of elliptical] with said thimble; said braces beingofguncal'rela'tionwith the umbrella axis when the 115 [8,111 an umbrella, the combination with a metal, tubular handle stick of elliptical cross section; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs of equal length piv'otally connected with said thimble'; a circular series 0fbraces1pivotally Y connected'with said 'ribs at'equal distances elliptical configuracross section; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs of equal length pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with said ribs; said braces being of unequal length; the longest and shortest braces being diametrically opposed in the plane of the major axis'of the elliptical configuration of the stick.

10. In an umbrella, the combination with a metal tubular handle stick of elliptical cross section; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with said ribs; said braces being of unequal length; the longest and shortest braces being diametrically opposed in the plane of the major axis of the elliptical configuration of the stick.

11. In an umbrella, the combination with a handle stick; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with said ribs; said braces being of unequal length; a tubular runner on said stick having a circular series of slots extend ing parallel with the stick and of respectively different lengths corresponding with the different lengths of said braces; said braces having their ends remote from said ribs respectively pivotally connected in said runner slots, and adapted to, slide longitudinally in said slots; and means adapted to bear upon the pivot ends of said braces in said runner and shift them to one end of said slots, when the umbrella is raised; whereby said stick is held in oblique relation with the axis of the umbrella, with the handle presented in eccentric relation with the axis of the umbrella, when the umbrella is raised and said ribs and braces maybe folded parallel with said stick, in symmetrical relation with the umbrella axis when the umbrella is closed."

In an umbrella, the combination with a handle stick; of a thimble rigidly connected with said stick; a circular series of ribs pivotally connected with said thimble; a circular series of braces pivotally connected with said ribs; said braces being of unequal length; a tubular runner on said stick having a circular series of slots extending parallel with the stick; said braces having their ends remote from said ribs respectively pivotally connected in said runner slots, and adapted to slide longitudinally in said slots; and means adapted to bear upon the pivot ends of said braces in said runner and shift them to one end of'said slots, When-the umbrella is raised; whereby said stick is held in oblique relation with the axis of the umbrella, with the handle presented in eccentric relation with the axis of the umbrella, when the umbrella is raised; and said ribs and braces may be folded parallel with said stick, in symmetrical relation vwith the umbrella axis when the umbrella is closed.

13. An umbrella handle stick comprising a metal tube which is of cylindrical configuration for a portion of its length and flattened to substantially elliptical configuration at another portion of its length; whereby the relative position of rotation of an umbrella may be tactually determined by the user.

in testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, this 21st day of November, 1925.

ROBERT MEADE CRAIG. 

